This database picks up where the SSDI leaves off, with details such as birth date and parents' names extracted from information filed with the Social Security Administration through the application or claims process.

The Death Master File (DMF) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) currently contains over 89 million records and is updated weekly. The file is created from internal SSA records of deceased persons possessing social security numbers and whose deaths were reported to the SSA. Often this was done in connection with filing for death benefits by a family member, an attorney, a mortuary, etc. Each update of the DMF includes corrections to old data as well as additional names. [NOTE: If someone is missing from the list, it may be that the benefit was never requested, an error was made on the form requesting the benefit, or an error was made when entering the information into the SSDI.] Beginning in 2014, legislative rules governing the SSDI changed. Going forward, records from the most recent 3 year period will not be available to Archives.com. Once a record is older than 3 years (1095 days), it can be published .Archives.com does not provide this number in the Social Security Death Index for any person that has passed away within the past 10 years. The absence of a particular person in the SSDI is not proof this person is alive. Additionally, there is a possibility that incorrect records of death have been entered on the DMF. The Social Security Administration does not guarantee the accuracy of the file.

This collection of indexed death records from England and Wales was recorded by the General Register's Office (GRO). It contains millions of records documenting marriages from 1916 to 2005. Images are only available through 1983.

Indexing death records in California between 1940 and 1997, this database is an invaluable tool for those researching in the state of California. Vital records in California have been kept by the state registrar of vital statistics since 01 July 1905. This database is an index to the death records in California from 1940 through 1997. The database may provide such valuable information as first, last and middle names of the decedents, birth dates, mother's maiden name, father's last name, sex, birth place, death place, residence at time of death, death date, social security number (when available), and the age of the individual at the time they became deceased.

This database, with over 5.3 million names, lists those who died from 1908-1932, 1938-2007 in the state of Ohio. Information contained in this index includes:

Name of the deceased

Place of residence

Death place

Death date

Age at time of death

Birth date

Race

Educational level

Father's name

Note: Each entry may not provide ALL of this information. Also, only records from 1908-1944 will include a corresponding image.

Search Tip:

The original index created by the Ohio Department of Health, in some cases, limits the length of a given name to seven characters. Names such as Christian, Elizabeth, Katherine, etc. that are more than seven characters in length may need to be truncated to produce search results. If desired search results are not appearing, please try searching in the given name field using seven letters or less.

Where to Go From Here:

Information found within this database may provide you with enough information to be able to obtain a copy of a death certificate. Copies of death certificates can be ordered through Ancestry by clicking on the "Order Original Certificate" link in the shown on the search results page.

Additional information about obtaining death certificates is available at the Ohio Department of Health website. You can also contact the Department directly at:

General Note: Please contact the Ohio Department of Health for current fees.

About Death Records:

Death records of the nineteenth century often include the name of the deceased, date, place, and cause of death, age at the time of death, place of birth, parents' names, occupation, name of spouse, name of the person giving the information, and the informant's relationship to the deceased. Race is listed in some records.

Death records, both early and modern, can help you identify others related to the decedent. The information provided in the records is usually given to authorities by a close relative. If the relative is a married daughter, the record will state her married name. Aunts, uncles, in-laws, cousins, and other relatives are listed as informants on death records. Each new name is a clue to the identity of other ancestors that should be pursued.

Why can’t I see the Social Security Number?

If the Social Security Number is not visible on the record index it is because Ancestry.com does not provide this number for any person that has passed away within the past 10 years.

Taken from Chapter 3: Research in Birth, Death, and Cemetery Records, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy by Johni Cerny; edited by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry Incorporated, 1997).

The state department of health has the responsibility of recording the deaths of tens of thousands of residents who die each year. This index lists over 7 million individuals who died in the state of Texas from 1903-2000. A few deaths from years prior to 1903 are also included. The index was provided by the Texas Department of Health. Information available in this index includes:

Name of deceased

Death county

Death date

Death certificate number

Gender

Marital status

Note: not all entries will provide all of this information. In addition, only deaths from 1903-63 and 1999-2000 are linked to images of the original Department of Health index.

Where to Go From Here:

With the information provided in this index, you may be able to obtain a copy of a death certificate. Because more information is often provided in an original record than in its index, it is important that you obtain a copy of the original record, if possible. For information on how to order a copy of a death certificate, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website (www.tdh.state.tx.us) or write to:

Beginning in 1903, with mandatory recording of births and deaths, copies of county records are maintained at the Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756. Statewide indexes were microfilmed by the Texas State Library and copies are additionally available at several genealogical libraries. The death index is alphabetical within broader periods of time: 1903-40; 1940;45; 1946-55; then annually for 1956-73. The Genealogy Section of the Texas State Library provides limited correspondence service by checking indexes for a particular name for a small fee. If a birth or death record is not found at the state level, it is prudent to check the proper municipal or county office.

Modern (post-1910) death records, though comparatively recent, are steadily increasing in value. People are living longer, and death records often provide information about birth as well as death.

Modern death certificates have not been standardized throughout the United States; but, like birth certificates, most of them contain the same types of information. Most contemporary death certificates include the deceased's name, sex, race, date of death, age at the time of death, place of death, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, name of spouse, Social Security number, occupation, residence, father's name, mother's name, cause of death, and place of burial. Records from some states provide the birthplace of the deceased's parents. The Social Security number is not always included, but, when it is, it can be invaluable because other records (subject to right-of-privacy laws) may be accessible if you have the Social Security number.

As any experienced researcher knows, death records are only as accurate as the knowledge of the person who provided the information. Many informants are unaware of the name of parents or are unsure about dates and places of birth. Always try to find additional information about parents and dates and places of birth whenever possible.

Taken from Cerny, Johni, "Research in Birth, Death, and Cemetery Records." In The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, ed. Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997).

This database is a compilation of burial records from a variety of sources and cemeteries. These records provide information on the burials of U.S. veterans and their dependents who were buried in the various Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, or other military cemeteries. Because the information regarding the burials is compiled from multiple sources, the amount of information provided for each burial will vary. Some of the information you may find in this database includes: name of deceased, birth date, death date, interment date, burial location/site, cemetery name, cemetery address, relationship to veteran, veteran service dates, military rank, and military branch.

This index covers over 5 million deaths recorded in Florida from 1877-1998. Most records contain:

Name of deceased

Death place (city and/or county)

Death date

Race

Birth date

Gender

Certificate and/or volume number

This collection of records was digitized from microfiche provided by The Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, Florida 32231-0042. It is important to use the information gathered from this index to obtain a copy of the original record, as original records usually contain more information than do their indexes. Information about how to order a copy of a death certificate is available on The Florida Department of Health website.

The Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, Florida 32231, has custody of birth and death records filed from January 1917 to date.

Death records begin about 1877, but the first state law mandating registration of deaths was passed in 1899, and records before 1917 are spotty. It is always wise to check with city health departments. Some years ago, for example, the St. Augustine Health Department deposited a number of "death certificates and burial permits" written on scraps of paper, prescription blanks, etc., for the late 1870s and early 1880s with its local historical society library.

Death records of the nineteenth century often include the name of the deceased, date, place, and cause of death, age at the time of death, place of birth, parents' names, occupation, name of spouse, name of the person giving the information, and the informant's relationship to the deceased. Race is listed in some records.

Death records, both early and modern, can help you identify others related to the decedent. The information provided in the records is usually given to authorities by a close relative. If the relative is a married daughter, the record will state her married name. Aunts, uncles, in-laws, cousins, and other relatives are listed as informants on death records. Each new name is a clue to the identity of other ancestors that should be pursued.

Taken from Chapter 3: Research in Birth, Death, and Cemetery Records, The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy by Johni Cerny; edited by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry Incorporated, 1997).

This database is an index to deaths that occurred in North Carolina between 1908 and 2004. This index was created by three agencies.

The first portion was created by Ancestry from microfilm copies of county death indexes obtained from the North Carolina State Archives and Records Section (see the bottom of this page for a list of counties and years covered). Records from this portion WILL include an IMAGE of the corresponding microfilm record. Be sure to view this image when it is available as additional information about your relative (such as volume and page number of death certificate) may be listed on it.

The second portion of this index is statewide and covers the years 1968-1996. It was obtained by Ancestry from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This portion of the index does NOT include any images.

The third portion of this index is also statewide but covers the years 1997-2004. It was obtained by Ancestry from the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics. This portion of the index also does NOT include any images.

The following information is included in this database:

Name of deceased*

Death date*

Death place (usually a county)*

Age at time of death*

Gender

Race*

Marital status

Autopsy (yes or no)

Hospital

Bed Code

Attendant

Mode of burial

Father's surname

Place of injury

Birth date

Birthplace

Residence

Social Security Number

Note: An "*" denotes information that may be available for all records. All other information may only be listed for records from 1968-1996.

Where to Go From Here:

Death records are important records for genealogists because generally they provide details about an individual's death as well as details about an individual's life. With the information gathered from this index you might be able to obtain a copy of the original death record from the North Carolina Office of Vital Records, the State Archives, or the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred (see extended description for more information about this). It is important to use information obtained from this database to locate your ancestor in the original records that this index references, as usually additional information is contained in the original record that could further benefit your research.

More About North Carolina Deaths:

On 10 March 1913, the North Carolina General Assembly ratified an act requiring the registration of births and deaths in the state; virtually full compliance was achieved by 1920, with some delayed birth records for earlier dates eventually added. The indexes to these records are available in the county where the event took place or on microfilm at the North Carolina State Archives and the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City.

Copies of death records can be obtained from the office of the County Register of Deeds and from the Office of Vital Records (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903). The North Carolina State Archives also has death certificates for those who died between 1913 and 1955 on microfilm in the Search Room. The microfilm collection of the FHL has death certificates (1906-1994); still births (1814-1953); fetal deaths (1960-1974), and an index (1906-1967).

If the Social Security Number is not visible on the record index it is because Ancestry.com does not provide this number for any person that has passed away within the past 10 years.

Counties and Years that have Images:

Below is a list showing the counties and year ranges for which there are images of the microfilmed indexes from the State Archives included in this database:

County (Date Range)

Alleghany (1959-1989 and Various)

Avery (1914-1932)

Bertie (1914-1921)

Cleveland (1940-1977)

Currituck (1914-1983)

Davidson (1914-1980)

Gates (1871-1995)

Harnett (1914-1923)

Hertford (1913-1994)

Hoke (1913-1983)

Hyde (1913-1975)

Jones (1914-1981)

Martin (1913-1957)

Montgomery (1913-1981)

Perquiman (1913-1995)

Polk (1913-1993)

Scotland (1913-1949)

Vance (1913-1997)

Various (1906-1995)

North Carolina County Codes:

Note: In some parts of this index, the county of death was recorded as a numeric code. In these cases, when you view the image, you will see the county written in that way. For your reference, the county code translations are provided below following the county name:

This database contains an index to Massachusetts death records for the years 1901-1980. Entries will typically include a name, town, birth year, and a certificate number or a volume and page number for the original record.

This important database contains an index to more than 2.6 million death records of individuals living in Kentucky from 1911 on. All records contain the following information: name of the individual, date of death, county of death, county of residence, age at death, and volume and certificate number.

This database is an index of more than 2.7 million deaths recorded by the state of Georgia from 1919 to 1998. Georgia's registration of births and deaths on the state level began in 1919. The index includes the name of the deceased, the volume of the certificate number, the death date, the race of the deceased, the deceased's gender, the county of death, the death certificate number, the date the certificate was filed, and the deceased's age.

This database is an index of deaths recorded by the state of Minnesota from 1908 to 2002. The registration of births and deaths on the county level began in 1870, however, state-level registration of deaths in Minnesota did not begin until 1908. The index includes:

Name of the deceased

City and county of death

Date of death

Birth date

Birthplace

Mother's maiden name

State file number

Note: Each entry may not contain all of this data.

Non-certified death certificates may be orderd from the Minnesota Historical Society for a small fee of $8. For information on ordering non-certified death certificates visit the Minnesota Historical Society website. If a certified death certificate is needed please visit the Minnesota Department of Health website for more information. The Department of Health can also issue non-certified certificates. However, the fee is slightly more expensive than that of the Historical Society.

Death records are usually a good source of genealogical information. Modern death certificates have not been standardized throughout the United States, but, like birth certificates, most of them contain the same types of information. Most death certificates include the deceased's name, sex, race, date of death, age at the time of death, place of death, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, name of spouse, Social Security number, occupation, residence, father's name, mother's name, cause of death, and place of burial. However, always remember that death records are only as accurate as the knowledge of the person who provided the information. Be sure to find out who the informant was and what kind of relationship he had with your deceased ancestor to determine how well he would have known your relative. Many informants are unaware of the name of parents or are unsure about dates and places of birth. Always try to find additional information about parents and dates and places of birth whenever possible.

Taken from Cerny, Johni, "Research in Birth, Death, and Cemetery Records." In The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, ed. Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997).

All data in this third-party database was obtained from the source's website. Archives.com does not support or make corrections or changes to the original database. To learn more about these records, please refer to the source's website.

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